Cruising on Omega: HANGING OUT AT GOOSE POND IN SCOTTSBORO, AL

It's hard to believe we have been here at Goose Pond Marina in Scottsboro for two months. It has been very relaxing and enjoyable. Bill has been busy replacing various and sundry things, fixing things, etc. OMEGA is sporting a new water heater, microwave, printer, and soon will have struts to easily lower and raise her radar arch which will really be nice. He has also replaced numerous parts on our vintage F150 which has served us so well for the past 20 years.

We have had several visits from friends which is always a pleasure. William and Judy Mayberry, sailing friends who winter in Marathon, stopped by twice on their way to their home in Crossville, TN. They were in their camper the second time and stayed at the Goose Pond Colony Campground.

WILLIAM, JUDY AND BILL

Daughter Debbie and Grandsons Jonathan and Chris from Tulsa were here for several days in late July, and we enjoyed every minute of their stay. The boys had not seen OMEGA before, so a cruise downstream on the Tennessee River was at the top of our "to do" list. We cruised down to the Guntersville Lock and let them experience being locked down and back up. A tow was upbound when we arrived, so they got to see it coming out of the lock. We spent the night at the Guntersville State Park Lodge dock and enjoyed the beautiful view and sunset from the top of the mountain before dinner in the lodge.

DEBBIE, CHRIS AND JON ON THE TENNESSEE RIVER

TOW LEAVING GUNTERSVILLE LOCK

CHRIS, DEBBIE, CHAR AND JON AT

GUNTERSVILLE STATE PARK LODGE

BILL AND FAMILY

BEAUTIFUL SUNSET ON THE TENNESSEE RIVER

VIEW OF OMEGA TAKEN FROM THE

TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN

The next day we cruised back to North Sauty Creek, which is adjacent to Goose Pond Marina and anchored for lunch and water activities. The boys had fun diving and flipping off the top of OMEGA and also doing some exploring in the tender. The water was great for swimming.

CHRIS AND JON

On July 31st we showed them around Scottsboro and vicinity including a visit to Unclaimed Baggage, where Jon found a great deal on an expensive camera. He's a professional photographer so he knows his cameras plus he loves to buy and sell for a profit which was his plan for this purchase. We took them up to the Crow Mountain Orchard for some yummy peaches and apples to take home with them. Then it was time for a tender ride up the river for Debbie.

DEBBIE

A FUN TIME TOGETHER

THE WINDBLOWN LOOK!

DAUGHTER DEBBIE

On Aug. 1st, it was time for them to return to Tulsa. Chris will be leaving for his Junior year at the University of Oklahoma shortly and Debbie and Jon have to return to work. So glad they could spend a few days with us!

HOMEWARD BOUND

We've been catching up on various and sundry doctor and dental appointments. Bill has been going to Physical Therapy for inflammation of the muscles in his arm. We found that we both have cataracts, and Bill will be having cataract surgery in September in Huntsville.

We've been revisiting our favorite restaurants in the area including Mimi's in Grant, Rock House Eatery in Guntersville, Barry's Bar-b-q in Fyffe, Buena Vista, Margarita's, and Steverino's in Scottsboro plus we've checked out some new ones including Pikeville Deli in Pikeville and Po Boy Factory in Huntsville. Needless to say, we're not going hungry!!

It's been our pleasure to be invited for dinner at Ray and Patsy Whitney's home with Ron and Gail (Just Us)

and Rick and Kathy (Dreamweaver) and at Wout and Joan Dieperink's home with Larry and Carol Kaschak. Both were delicious meals and gracious hosts. In addition, there's usually a weekly covered dish gathering on Dock 2, and we've joined in several times.

We've done a little entertaining on OMEGA, too including dinner for Ray, Patsy and Jack Feldwisch; William and Judy Mayberry, Plyler and Penny McManus, Patrick and Linda Curtis, and Leisha (Lulu). Summerland Key neighbors Richard and Mabel Paszyc came to see us in their RV and spent one night in the Goose Pond Campground. We enjoyed Happy Hour aboard OMEGA and then went out to dinner at Buena Vista.

On August 16th we drove to Birmingham where we stopped to see Grandson Ross briefly before visiting with our Dock 4 friend Doris Deason at her condo. She has the most beautiful antique furnishings one would find anywhere! Doris took us to lunch at The Club, which overlooks the city of Birmingham. What a treat! It is a private club, and she has been a member there for 40 years. It was delightful and the food was delicious. They had a harpist entertaining. What a treat this was for us!!

VIEW OF BIRMINGHAM FROM THE CLUB

OUTDOOR PATIO

CHARLOTTE and OUR HOSTESS DORIS

BILL AND DORIS

SUNKEN LIGHTED DANCE FLOOR AT THE CLUB

ENTERTAINMENT DURING LUNCH

We drove on to Lake Martin to our Daughter Diane's family lake house where we spent the weekend. Granddaughter Julia was home from Auburn between her summer semester and fall semester of Grad school. The weather was chilly, windy, and overcast which curtailed our water activities for the most part, but we still had a great weekend.